How can I change my life completely? One Step at a Time to Success

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Today I had the most extraordinary sense of Yes I can! You know what I did? I drove a car for the first time in six years...yes, I did. I had forgotten how freeing that sensation of driving is. I found myself rolling down the windows and hollering YES YES YES !

And as if that was not enough, I drove through my beloved mountain winding roads and ended up on a trail leading to the top of a mountain. How can I change my life? One step at a time.

And drum roll, please! I parked the car, saying to myself, Yes I can. And I literally hiked up this rocky path to the top of a mountain!

YES I DID!

Six years in a wheelchair, and I was walking one step at a time to the summit. I was giggling while simultaneously, tears were streaming down my face.

I did this. I did this without someone holding my hand. I did this all by myself. I did this because I knew I could. I believed in me.

My own summit of success. My own summit of changing my world. And it only happened because I did it, step by step by step.

NO DREAM KILLERS ALLOWED

Along the way, there were people who thought I should just live the rest of my life in a nursing home. There were doctors who said I would never walk again. My family was worried. My world was turned upside down.

I realized there was no space for anyone who did not see my process.

And I think this is so true of our lives. Those that choose to see the glass half empty will not be willing to do the step by step approach to change. And I have to honor their choice.

I do not have to welcome them in my life. There is a difference between showing concern and compassion vs nope you cannot do this. Right?

So from my own experience should anyone come into my sphere with the sense of no, I just quietly know deep inside they just haven't found their 'yes' yet. I wish them great discovery.

For me, I am learning that freedom is an inner job. It has no external factors. No matter who is around me. I am not beholden to their beliefs. I can only answer to mine.

So please know, there is always a door with a door knob. Just our choice to turn the knob. And venture deep within.

STEP BY STEP

With each step of change it was a choice that had to be made. Was I willing to even be seen in a wheelchair? Was I willing to be vulnerable and ready to ask for help?

If I answered yes, it meant allowing everything that might come with that choice to be seen as open-ended. No judgments, no boundaries. Argh, that is tough. And quite a process. So then on to next step.

After I spent many years figuring out the ways of riding a wheelchair,(which will be another blog), and had stopped having episodes of losing consciousness, I decided another step was coming. This was getting on public transportation.

Wow, really out in public. Really being seen. Was I ready for this?

Taking a bus in a wheelchair requires many steps for the bus driver. First off, if a wheelchair is going to be boarded, no one else can board until the wheelchair is secured. Talk about feeling obvious!

This is quite a labor intensive process for the bus driver. Here is how it goes. The bus has to be hydraulically lowered, then the ramp has to be set in motion to meet the sidewalk. The driver has to flip up a row of seats to make room for the wheelchair.

Then the person in the chair has to come up the ramp, and travel through the narrow passageway between the hanging down legs of other passengers. (Hoping that no one will be bruised by the passing wheelchair.)

Then using parallel parking techniques, the wheelchair has to be eased and parked into the spot where the seats were turned up. Still, more steps...the driver then has to release the special safety equipment.

There are at least 4 safety straps that hook up to the chair. Which means the driver is climbing all over the passenger trying to get the straps secure.

Do you have the picture? It is intimacy without even a smile, lol.

And it is being really, I mean REALLY visible.

And then just when you think people have stopped looking at you, your stop arrives. The driver has to go through this process all over again! Whew! And other riders just have to be patient. It is indeed a telling process of what our metaphors are.

Kudos to the amazing drivers who did all of this with a smile. I cannot tell you how many times I have thanked them for their kindnesses.

And then my next step. Literally taking a step. Teaching myself how to walk again. Tiny steps that lead to amazing walks. All because I could! The sense of accomplishment has no words. It is a deep well of joy that just lights up and spreads. It is without ego, but with deep courage and vulnerability.

And then this last step, complete physical freedom. Driving and hiking! It only happened because I was able to connect the dots, step by step.

And now I am boarding a flight to see my grandgifts. And I will be racing with them!

Well maybe not quite racing..

MEDITATION

During this process of extreme change, I had one constant. It was my meditation practice. Daily twice a day. I visualized, and confirmed to my inner self that changes were coming. I visualized each step of the way. I felt myself giving my leg muscles strength and surging blood flow.

I saw my spine become my true backbone. I could see my brain growing new neuro-pathways. I knew that each moment in the cellular level there would be a bit of no I don't want to do this. And so I visualized each cell being given a treat. Grin. It worked,

There was no longer a fight.

So try this with me please:

Get in your comfortable meditation pose. On a chair or the floor. If you have never chanted, try an OM. It is the primal sound and it resonates on the cellular level. (I know it made a huge difference for my healing.)

Do 7 OMs...hold each one for as long as possible. Don't be surprised if you feel a little bit of rush, this is good, your body is being oxygenated.

Rest for a moment after the 7th OM. Then do 3 deep breaths.

After the breaths,close your eyes and visualize a space that brings you deep comfort. Mine is the forest with a bubbling brook.

See yourself exploring your sweet space. Feel how it invigorates your body. Feel your head getting lighter. Know that in this space there is only love, healing and possibility.

Repeat this to yourself: In my sweet space, I am growing, changing and healing.

I am my heart of hearts.

I am whole. I am healthy. I am vibrancy. I choose life.

Take a breath release slowly and open your eyes.

How do you feel? Calm, capable and open?

CONCLUSION

When I reached the summit, I caught my breath and took in the gorgeous view. 360 degrees of multiple ridges of mountains and sky. The view is beyond breath taking. And then to my surprise, I heard a gasp, a young man got down on his knee and proposed to his girlfriend.

Could I have possibly even staged this?

I was overcome by the possibility that this moment held. This young couple was starting out on their new journey. Changing their lives at this moment.

And I had also, step by step changed mine. One step in deciding that I could be more than what was expected. One step that lead to another step, that lead to completely changing my world.

Now I am living in an expanse of knowing that freedom is the door with a key. That key leads to letting go of all attachments and expectations. The moment we insert that key in the door, the Universe shows its immenseness and possibility.

What is possible for you today? Which step do you choose?

I want to hear what challenges you have overcome. Please do share your story.

After all, Yes we can, is not just words. It is how we choose to live and change.

And here at WA, we know everything is possible, its just step by step. Yes?

So here we are, knowing that each moment is a choice to success.

Thank you Dear Community, for all your support and kindness. It has changed my life. I am so grateful.

In peace and gratitude,

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Recent Comments

92

Thanks for sharing your amazing story Ariel. Your unwillingness to accept was was dealt to you is absolutely commendable. You are positive proof of the fact that if there is a will, there is always a way. Like you, I am facing the biggest challenge of my life. I continue to conquer this challenge, bit by bit, and my intentions are to conquer it totally. Thank you forgiving me the added inspiration that I needed.
Jerome

So now I really get it! you are a new being transformed into his amazing image because you believed whether it be in God or the Universe but I see that you believed in the greater you which is the most important. Thank you for this inspirational post absolutely awesome Yes Yes Yes you did it woohoo.
Cheers
Sue

You are Blessed Ariel. God has been good to you.

He is looking over you and like what you're doing for yourself.

6 years and now you are walking. OMGosh!

I have not read your previous post. But am excited to read it will be tonight.

thanks for being there, you are teaching me allot.

You almost remind me of Krisnamurti. Not sure he's still around. I read most of his 1/4 inch 8"x10" books.

Mahalo!


sign

I am very blessed indeed. Thank you.Wow, I am just me. But what great thoughts about Krishnamurti. He died in the 80s.

Blessings and joy to you.

What an amazing an inspiring story! I can really relate to it, too! I have lived with chronic illness most of my life, including migraine. I know what it is to come back from illness.

I go through this struggle every few days though, as I battle chrochronic migraine. Each attack racks body and soul as well aas head. I often have the signs of a stroke. I use meditation and the mind-body connection just to get through the pain and all the other things that go along with it. Then, step by step, I move through the numbness and weakness in my limbs until I can get out of bed and function again. Thats the short version anyway.

It usually starts with blinding visual disturbances, the nausea and/or vomiting and vertigo. Then comes unbelievable pain. Once it subsides i am left quite literally numb and weak with ataxia and exhaustion. But I get through it. Mind over matter usually saves the day. Deep relaxation and focussing on something else provides a refuge. Then it's one foot in front of the other, I get momoving again.

Thank you for sharing your journey Ariel. It's amazing what a person can do when they set their minds to it.

Have a great day!

Anita

Oh Anita, every day you are living your joy and your steps. You are amazing. I hope soon this journey will be behind you. Thank you for sharing your journey. Thank you for being here.

When I would feel myself losing consciousness prior to an episode, I visualized I was somewhere peaceful. It changed the way I would go through each episode. I just let go. No fear, no anger, no holding on to anything. And complete joy when my body came back.

I hear you about visualizing and deep focusing. it changes the energy and heals us faster.
Hugs to you.

Wow this is an amazing story! I am going to try your meditations today. Many years ago a friend of mine with MS offered to show me around town in a wheelchair. I used her manual while she took the scooter. We used public transit to get to various locations because she wanted to show me what it was all about and how the hardest part of being in a wheelchair for her was having to ask for help. I remember literally being lifted up on to the bus by the driver. (no lift equip on that bus)
Anyway, today I am taking lessons on driving a big rig tractor trailer. This will be the 5th time out and like for you driving down the highway will be a real wonder of doing it. "can I do it?" "I can do it" Thanks for the inspiration. I will think of you when struggling with and grinding the 17 gears today! take it step by step and maybe try to parallel park the thing with everyone watching too! lol

Hello Gordon, how wonderful that you did that experiment with your friend. I think it would be an eye opener for everyone to try a spin in a wheelchair. Very different perspective, isn't it?

Driving a huge tractor trailer? Wow, courage man. You got this!
Be one with the truck and let it flow. I cannot wait to hear how fabulously you are doing.

And let me know how the meditation works for you.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and sharing this journey.
Enjoy the road less traveled! Wishing you much peace and success.

Will do. Did the Oms....Will be jumping in the truck in about two hours.

What a wonderful, inspirational and humbling story. Many of us have excuses why we can't do this or that, but they are just that - excuses. Compared to what you've been through, they are trivial bits of nonsense that can be ignored.

Next time I am tempted to say "I can't...." I will remember your story.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for reading this and being so encouraging ! I am looking forward to hearing about your yes I can. Best wishes and flowing blessings.

Congratulations Aerial, a truly inspirational story and a great example of personal willpower.
It is very true that you do not have to look very far to find somebody much worse off than yourself.
I do appreciate and I am very thankful for the good luck that has embraced my 86 years
John

And we are all as good as we decide we are. Only judgment takes away our possibility. I am so grateful you are here. Be well..how are all those babies?

Ariel, you have just described a journey that I intend to duplicate. Being in a wheelchair, I can relate to all your emotions. But you showed me something I've been missing in my meditations and journey to healing. Accepting the now and living as if the wheelchair is already gone. Accepting myself and getting on that bus...living in the moment and not waiting for the miracle. It's really difficult to maintain the positive thinking when all the professionals project a negative future. WA had made a huge difference in my attitude..Providing a path to a vibrant future. I believe in myself...just have to make a few tweaks. Thanks for being so open.
Debbie

Oh Debbie, I wish you step by step success. It is amazing when we let go of the externalized opinions and just focus on what we know is our truth. We end up taking our power back.

And whether or not we are wheelchair riders or use our legs, it all comes down to knowing we are not less than. Because we are all amazing in our own right..yes?

And WA did that for me too. It is a great example of not accepting status quo. A little bit of changing our hearts does indeed change our world. So whatever happens physically is enriched by how we decide to see ourselves.

Sending hugs for another day of finding our own power. You rock.
Thanks for being here. Let me know how you are doing please.

Each time I see your name and photo I am jerked out of my self pity....brought on by how very difficult I find this thing we are all trying to do.! My trying to make more money at my age (secret clue...it is hidden in my username here) would be sillly if the money were for me. Everything I am going to make from my Internet business will be put aside for my wife, for use only after I die. Because....well that becomes too personal here!

You inspire me to quit-my-bitching and get back to WORK.
On a daily basis.
So...au revoir until our next chat

JeanLouis87

Hello JeanLouis, I know each of us has our own mountain to climb. And I am guessing that when you see your business as a loving thing, the money will just start flowing..and worries will be behind you.

I just hope that each day you are seeing the miracle that you are still here and smiling. What a gift that is.
Thank you for the gift of you. May this day bring you peace.

Awesome story - thanks for sharing! I too was told I would never walk again when a crazy autoimmune attack took away all feeling in my feet and calves. Instead I weaned myself off of the life-stealing medication I was on and started my journey to not only walking, but going to 3-day dance parties. Now I understand that every day is another step on my healing journey and joining WA is a part of that. Happy to have met you here!

Hello Dr Doug! I was just reading your profile. What an amazing journey you have been on. And 3 day dance parties..whoa!
Isn't it amazing what our bodies can do, when our inner self shows itself in truth?
May each step bring you to a place of great joy, peace and more dancing! Wow! I am so happy we get to meet too!
Now I guess I better think about dancing???
Wishing you a great journey here at WA.
Life is all about our choices..yes?

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